Root causes of terrorism. Analysts such as Tore Bjorgo argue that terrorism is a set of methods of strategies of combat rather than an identifiable ideology or movement (Bjorgo, 2005).

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Introduction

A consensus on the definition of terrorism has been difficult to develop due to the lack of academic and legal agreement. However, analyst such as Tore Bjorgo argue, as a core assumption, that terrorism is a set of methods of strategies of combat rather than an identifiable ideology or movement (Bjorgo, 2005). It also involves the premeditated use of violence against non-combatants in order to achieve a psychological effect of fear on other than the immediate target (Bjorgo, 2005). In addition terrorism is an extremism of means rather than one of ends (Richardson, 2006). The root causes of terrorism are vital in combating this phenomenon. The concept has developed relatively slowly after the 2001 terrorist attacks in Washington D.C and New York City. The causes of terrorism are centered around four basic aspects of modern life: psychology, politics, the domestic and global economy and religion.

Psychological Causes

Explanation of the psychological causes of terrorism at an individual level is insufficient. This is primarily due to the lack of uniformity in terms of personality type and general psychological traits (Richardson, 2006). In fact terrorist groups often flush out those mentally weak individuals seeing them as a